Clattenburg to referee Chelsea after Mikel row

Mark Clattenburg will take charge of a Chelsea match for the first time since the John Obi Mikel racism row when he referees the Blues' Premier League clash against Swansea City on Sunday.

Chelsea, acting on claims by the club's Brazil star Ramires, had accused Clattenburg of using "inappropriate language" towards Nigeria midfielder Mikel during Manchester United's stormy 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge on October 28.

Ramires was reported to have claimed he heard Clattenburg say "shut up you monkey" to his team-mate.

But Clattenburg was cleared of the allegation by the Football Association a month later and the police also dropped their inquiry.

Mikel was charged with misconduct by the FA and served a three-match ban, as well as paying a Â£60,000 ($91,532) fine.

The FA interviewed Clattenburg, Mikel and several other Blues players before reaching its decision to clear the official.

The 38-year-old Clattenburg, who missed four weeks of Premier League action while the investigation continued, had said it was "truly frightening" to have faced the prospect that his career might be over.

Chelsea later admitted they regretted the 'intense media scrutiny' faced by Clattenburg and his family and indicated they would be happy for him to officiate at Stamford Bridge again in the future.

Now he will return to the Bridge in a fixture likely to include Mikel, who has featured regularly for Chelsea for most of the season.